80' (Benham).

XXXVI

It is worth recalling that at one time Walter Scott attributed
this gallant lyric, which he printed in the _Minstrelsy_, to a
'greater Graham'--the Marquis of Montrose.

XXXVII, XXXVIII

Of these, the first, _Blow High, Blow Low_, was sung in _The
Seraglio_ (1776), a forgotten opera; the second, said to have
been inspired by the death of the author's brother, a naval
officer, in _The Oddities_ (1778)--a 'table-entertainment,'
where Dibdin was author, actor, singer, musician, accompanist,
everything but audience and candle-snuffer. They are among the
first in time of his sea-ditties.

XXXIX

It is told (_Life_, W. H. Curran, 1819) that Curran met a
deserter, drank a bottle, and talked of his chances, with him,
and put his ideas and sentiments into this song.

XL

The _Arethusa_, Mr. Hannay tells me, being attached to Keppel's
fleet at the mouth of the Channel, was sent to order the
_Belle Poule_, which was cruising with some smaller craft in
search of Keppel's ships, to come under his stern. The _Belle
Poule_ (commanded by M. Chadeau de la Clocheterie) refusing,
the _Arethusa_ (Captain Marshall) opened fire. The ships were
fairly matched, and in the action which ensued the _Arethusa_
appears to have got the worst of it. In the end, after about
an hour's fighting, Keppel's liners came up, and the _Belle
Poule_ made off. She was afterwards driven ashore by a superior
English force, and it is an odd coincidence that in 1789 the
_Arethusa_ ran ashore off Brest during her action (10th March)
with _l'Aigrette_. As for the French captain, he lived to command
_l'Hercule_, De Grasse's leading ship in the great sea-fight
(12th April 1782) with Rodney off Dominica, where he was killed.

XLI

From the _Songs of Experience_ (1794).

XLII

_Scots Musical Museum_, 1788. Adapted from, or rather suggested
by, the _Farewell_, which Macpherson, a cateran 'of great personal
strength and musical accomplishment,' is said to have played and
sung at the gallows foot; thereafter breaking his violin across
his knee and submitting his neck to the hangman.

spring = _a melody in quick time_
sturt = _molestation_

XLIII

_Museum_, 1796. Burns told Thomson and Mrs. Dunlop that this
noble and most moving song was old; but nobody believed him then,
and nobody believes him now.

pint-stoup = _pint-mug_
braes = _hill-sides_
gowans = _daisies_
paidl't = _paddled_